SAN FRANCISCO - Today the Western Climate Initiative unveiled a set of concrete steps it is taking over the next year to link partner cap and trade programs. Those steps are outlined here (//www.westernclimateinitiative.org/document-archives/Partner-Meeting-Materials/Jan-12-Stakeholder-Update-Presentation/).

The following statement by James Goldstene (California) and Jim Whitestone (Ontario), co-chairs of the Western Climate Initiative was issued following the public stakeholders' meeting of the WCI in San Francisco.

"At today's public stakeholder meeting the partners in WCI demonstrated a commitment to address climate change with a clear path towards a linked program to reduce greenhouse gases. This will create the largest carbon market in North America and provide a model that can guide future efforts to establish a creative roadmap for future national approaches in both Canada and the U.S. to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This marks a significant step forward in our efforts to fight climate change. It will help clean the air, create new jobs, and establish WCI as a leader in the effort to reduce our dependence on petroleum and move toward a clean energy future."